Reviews: All, 1970shttp://classic-horror.com/reviews/all/1970
Classic-Horror.com's most recent movie reviewsenReview: Sisters (1973)http://classic-horror.com/reviews/sisters_1973
<div class="image-attach-teaser image-attach-node-17898" style="width: 134px;"><a href="/reviews/sisters_1973"><img src="http://classic-horror.com/files/images/sisters_poster.thumbnail.jpg" alt="Sisters (1973) poster" title="Sisters (1973) poster" class="image image-thumbnail " width="134" height="210" /></a></div>
<p><em>Sisters
</em>is a
pulpy, Hitchcockian first excursion into the subjects of voyeurism
and sexual horror by then unknown director Brian DePalma. Released
midway through the period (1968 - 1978) that I consider to be the
golden age of the modern American horror film, it does not share the
rarified air of classics like <em>Night
of the Living Dead </em>or
<em>Texas Chain
Saw Massacre</em>.
But <em>Sisters
</em>has enough
of its own creative juice to make it very much worth a look.</p><p><a href="http://classic-horror.com/reviews/sisters_1973" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://classic-horror.com/reviews/sisters_1973#commentsTheatrical releaseMad ScientistsPsycho KillersPsychologicalUSAFri, 02 Mar 2012 21:40:00 +0000Rich Dishman275 at http://classic-horror.comReview: The House That Dripped Blood (1971)http://classic-horror.com/reviews/house_that_dripped_blood_1971
<div class="image-attach-teaser image-attach-node-17806" style="width: 134px;"><a href="/reviews/house_that_dripped_blood_1971"><img src="http://classic-horror.com/files/images/house_that_dripped_blood_poster.thumbnail.jpg" alt="The House That Dripped Blood poster" title="The House That Dripped Blood poster" class="image image-thumbnail " width="134" height="210" /></a></div>
<p>From
1965 to 1973, Max J. Rosenberg and
Milton Subotsky's Amicus studios unleashed a string of high quality
anthology films that were inspired by the macabre morality tales
found in the pages of E.C. Comics. It's a format in which the company
would excel, as many of these features are now considered classics.
One of the studios finest portmanteau efforts is director Peter
Duffel's <em>The House That Dripped Blood</em>.
The film is extraordinary from start to finish thanks to its
exceptional writing, a star-studded cast, and a crew that enlivens
what is, for the most part, a stage-bound production.</p>
<p>
The story begins as a police inspector is called in to
investigate the disappearance of Paul Henderson, an actor who had
moved into a house with a history of strange occurrences. From there
the film fractures into four tales which are related to the inspector
by the homes real estate agent. They go as follows:</p><p><a href="http://classic-horror.com/reviews/house_that_dripped_blood_1971" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://classic-horror.com/reviews/house_that_dripped_blood_1971#commentsTheatrical releaseAnthologyUKTue, 19 Jul 2011 06:12:32 +0000Bruce Jordan294 at http://classic-horror.comReview: Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)http://classic-horror.com/reviews/assault_on_precinct_13_1976
<div class="image-attach-teaser image-attach-node-17792" style="width: 140px;"><a href="/reviews/assault_on_precinct_13_1976"><img src="http://classic-horror.com/files/images/assault_on_precinct_13_poster.thumbnail.jpg" alt="Assault on Precinct 13 poster" title="Assault on Precinct 13 poster" class="image image-thumbnail " width="140" height="210" /></a></div>
<p><em>Assault
on Precinct 13</em>
was John Carpenter's first foray into professional filmmaking, and
although today it is arguably remembered largely as an urban siege
thriller and an homage to the westerns of Howard Hawks, there is also
a nod to a classic horror film, as well some weird and ambiguous
elements that point to the direction Carpenter was to take with his
future work.
</p><p><a href="http://classic-horror.com/reviews/assault_on_precinct_13_1976" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://classic-horror.com/reviews/assault_on_precinct_13_1976#commentsTheatrical releaseBorderline HorrorSurvival HorrorUSAMon, 27 Jun 2011 08:21:07 +0000Simon Powell17776 at http://classic-horror.comReview: Shock Waves (1977)http://classic-horror.com/reviews/shock_waves_1977
<div class="image-attach-teaser image-attach-node-17775" style="width: 137px;"><a href="/reviews/shock_waves_1977"><img src="http://classic-horror.com/files/images/shock_waves.thumbnail.jpg" alt="Shock Waves poster" title="Shock Waves poster" class="image image-thumbnail " width="137" height="210" /></a></div>
<p>The mere prospect of a Nazi zombie
evokes dread filled imagery and an almost overwhelming sense of
terror. With that being said, it's rather amazing that although this
mini sub-genre has been around in one form or another since the
1940's, there are very few films within this particular niche that
have the ability to frighten an audience. In fact, many consider most
of these films (i.e. <em>Zombie Lake</em>, <em>Oasis of the Zombies</em>) to be of such
poor quality that they are difficult to sit through, let alone
admire. One exception to this generalization is director Ken
Wiederhorn's Shock Waves, a film which manages to impress on various
levels despite being straddled with a meager budget.
</p>
<p>
The premise of <em>Shock Waves </em>is quite basic -- a
group of tourists find themselves shipwrecked on a remote island with
a former SS officer (Peter Cushing) who hides a terrifying secret.</p><p><a href="http://classic-horror.com/reviews/shock_waves_1977" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://classic-horror.com/reviews/shock_waves_1977#commentsTheatrical releaseScience FictionZombiesUSAMon, 13 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000Bruce Jordan1417 at http://classic-horror.comReview: Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973)http://classic-horror.com/reviews/dont_be_afraid_of_the_dark_1973
<div class="image-attach-teaser image-attach-node-17741" style="width: 158px;"><a href="/reviews/dont_be_afraid_of_the_dark_1973"><img src="http://classic-horror.com/files/images/dont-be-afraid-dark.thumbnail.jpg" alt="Don&#039;t Be Afraid of the Dark poster" title="Don&#039;t Be Afraid of the Dark poster" class="image image-thumbnail " width="158" height="210" /></a></div>
<p>During
the early 1970s, the three major television networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC)
provided their viewing audiences with an abundance of well-made, low-budget fright flicks as a response to the then burgeoning drive-in
market. One of the most well-remembered shows to air during this
time was the ABC Movie of the Week. The series ran for a respectable
six years (1969-1975), producing several key genre entries. John
Newland's <em>Don't
Be Afraid of The Dark </em>stood
at the forefront of this small screen movement. Newland's film left
an indelible mark on the terrified viewing audience that caught it on
October 10, 1973. Now, almost forty years later, it still stands up as the kind
of film that will make you want to sleep with your light on. </p><p><a href="http://classic-horror.com/reviews/dont_be_afraid_of_the_dark_1973" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://classic-horror.com/reviews/dont_be_afraid_of_the_dark_1973#commentsTelevision movieMonstersPsychologicalSupernaturalUSAMon, 21 Feb 2011 07:00:00 +0000Bruce Jordan17726 at http://classic-horror.comReview: House (1977)http://classic-horror.com/reviews/house_1977
<div class="image-attach-teaser image-attach-node-17467" style="width: 145px;"><a href="/reviews/house_1977"><img src="http://classic-horror.com/files/images/house_1977_poster.thumbnail.jpg" alt="House 1977 poster" title="House 1977 poster" class="image image-thumbnail " width="145" height="210" /></a></div>
<p>One of the great things about horror
films is the constant evolution of the genre; just when you think
you've seen every possible take on a premise, somebody will come
along with a new twist on an old favorite. The bare bones of the plot
of <em>House</em> (a group of teenage girls, trapped in a creepy old
mansion, being murdered one by one) may sound very familiar. However,
in the hands of a first-time director with a background in both art
and advertising, it becomes a chaotic and experimental piece of work
that, aside from being baffling, bloody, and disturbing, is a great
example of the theory of Pure Cinema.
</p><p><a href="http://classic-horror.com/reviews/house_1977" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://classic-horror.com/reviews/house_1977#commentsTheatrical releaseAnimal AttacksComedyGhostsHaunted HousesSplatterSupernaturalJapanMon, 17 Jan 2011 08:21:15 +0000Simon Powell7457 at http://classic-horror.comReview: The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue (1974)http://classic-horror.com/reviews/living_dead_at_manchester_morgue_1974
<div class="image-attach-teaser image-attach-node-17552" style="width: 160px;"><a href="/reviews/living_dead_at_manchester_morgue_1974"><img src="http://classic-horror.com/files/images/living_dead_at_manchester_morgue.thumbnail.jpg" alt="The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue poster" title="The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue poster" class="image image-thumbnail " width="160" height="100" /></a></div>
<p>Although
the influence of George Romero's <a href="/reviews/night_of_the_living_dead_1968" title="Night of the Living Dead"><em>Night
of the Living Dead</em></a><em> </em>is
undeniable, the film didn't produce anywhere near the number of
followers as its sequel, <em><a href="/reviews/dawn_of_the_dead_1978" title="Dawn of the Dead">Dawn
of the Dead</a>. </em>One
of the few films that followed in <em>Night
of the Living Dead's </em>zombified
footsteps is Spanish filmmaker Jorge Grau's <em>The
Living Dead at Manchester Morgue. </em>Inspired
by Romero's unrelenting piece of work, Grau headed to the U.K. in
order to make a film that his producers hoped would be little more
than a colorized version of <em>Night
of the Living Dead. </em>What
the producers got instead was a film that stands on its own merits
and now ranks among the subgenre's finest due to an intelligent
screenplay, sharp cinematography, and shocking gore effects.
</p><p><a href="http://classic-horror.com/reviews/living_dead_at_manchester_morgue_1974" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://classic-horror.com/reviews/living_dead_at_manchester_morgue_1974#commentsTheatrical releaseScience FictionSocial CommentaryZombiesItalySpainMon, 27 Dec 2010 21:01:39 +0000Bruce Jordan8934 at http://classic-horror.comReview: Cannibal Girls (1973)http://classic-horror.com/reviews/cannibal_girls_1973
<div class="image-attach-teaser image-attach-node-17678" style="width: 135px;"><a href="/reviews/cannibal_girls_1973"><img src="http://classic-horror.com/files/images/cannibal_girls_poster.thumbnail.jpg" alt="Cannibal Girls poster" title="Cannibal Girls poster" class="image image-thumbnail " width="135" height="210" /></a></div>
<p>All
the right pieces are in place for <em>Cannibal
Girls </em>to be a
schlocky, comedic gem: a pre-<a href="http://classic-horror.com/reviews/ghostbusters_1984"><em>Ghostbusters</em></a>
Ivan Reitman at the helm, the fresh-faced tandem of Eugene Levy and
Andrea Martin in the lead roles working with a mostly impromptu
script, and a cheesy "warning bell" gimmick that alerts viewers
of a particularly gruesome death sequence. Yet the potential wallop
that <em>Cannibal Girls</em>
packs with its one-two punch of dark comedy and B-movie cheese never
quite hits the intended mark. Despite the simplicity suggested in its
title, the film's plot is unfocused at times and further mired with
pacing issues. Though the humor provides temporary reprieve from the
listless pace, the comedic bits are few and far between and typically
hit-or-miss. Suffice to say, <em>Cannibal
Girls</em> is
middle-of-the-road schlock horror.
</p><p><a href="http://classic-horror.com/reviews/cannibal_girls_1973" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://classic-horror.com/reviews/cannibal_girls_1973#commentsTheatrical releaseCannibalsComedyReligious FiguresCanadaMon, 20 Dec 2010 10:48:06 +0000John Dubrawa8243 at http://classic-horror.comReview: Silent Night, Bloody Night (1974)http://classic-horror.com/reviews/silent_night_bloody_night_1974
<div class="image-attach-teaser image-attach-node-17479" style="width: 139px;"><a href="/reviews/silent_night_bloody_night_1974"><img src="http://classic-horror.com/files/images/silentnightbloodynight-poster.thumbnail.jpg" alt="Silent Night Bloody Night poster" title="Silent Night Bloody Night poster" class="image image-thumbnail " width="139" height="210" /></a></div>
<p><em>Silent Night, Bloody Night</em> is an
eerie and disturbing little proto-slasher. Filmed in 1972 and
arriving in 1974, it predates even <a href="/reviews/black_christmas_1974" title="Black Christmas"><em>Black Christmas</em></a>, yet
features several elements that have become familiar today: the
holiday setting, the menacing phone calls, the nebulous identity of
the killer, the "final girl". At the same time, its Gothic-style
focus on the tragic history of a big, creepy house places it at the
intersection of classic and modern approaches to the horror genre. At
worst, it's a curiosity; at best, it's a forgotten minor classic.
</p><p><a href="http://classic-horror.com/reviews/silent_night_bloody_night_1974" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://classic-horror.com/reviews/silent_night_bloody_night_1974#commentsTheatrical releaseUSAMon, 08 Nov 2010 19:50:30 +0000Nathan Sturm8535 at http://classic-horror.comReview: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)http://classic-horror.com/reviews/texas_chain_saw_massacre_1974
<div class="image-attach-teaser image-attach-node-13310" style="width: 139px;"><a href="/reviews/texas_chain_saw_massacre_1974"><img src="http://classic-horror.com/files/images/texas_chain_saw_massacre_1974.thumbnail.jpg" alt="Texas Chain Saw Massacre poster" title="Texas Chain Saw Massacre poster" class="image image-thumbnail " width="139" height="210" /></a></div>
<p><span class="event">Texas Chainsaw Massacre Month.</span> I was a late bloomer in my appreciation of horror cinema. Aside from sporadic outings to see mass-market horror films, I did not discover the true joys of the genre until I was in college. As I journeyed through classics like <em>Alien</em>, <em>Halloween</em>, and <em>Rosemary's Baby</em>, I was occasionally frightened or unsettled in various ways, but it was all enjoyable horror, the kind that can be intense but that ultimately leaves the psyche unscarred. Then I saw <em>The Texas Chain Saw Massacre</em>. As I watched this film, a deep-seated, almost unidentifiable anxiety began to build within me from the opening scenes - scenes which contain very little horror. Then, as I watched the characters experience physical and psychological torment later in the film, that building anxiety exploded into outright dismay. I was so disturbed by this movie that it would be six years before I watched it again, and even then it retained a potent effect. <em>The Texas Chain Saw Massacre</em> is not so much creative in its approach to instilling horror as it is merciless, breaking down viewers' defenses before hitting them on all sides with unimaginable terror. This is one of the most horrifying films ever made.</p><p><a href="http://classic-horror.com/reviews/texas_chain_saw_massacre_1974" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://classic-horror.com/reviews/texas_chain_saw_massacre_1974#commentsTheatrical releaseTexas Chainsaw MassacreCannibalsPsycho KillersUSATexas Chainsaw Massacre MonthSun, 31 Oct 2010 05:44:31 +0000Robert Ring976 at http://classic-horror.com